People

Local Organizing Committee

The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) is responsible for planning and executing all on-site aspects of the event. Its role includes coordinating logistics such as venues, accommodation, transportation, and technical infrastructure, as well as supporting the academic program. The LOC also ensures participants’ safety and well-being, manages volunteers, and represents the host country’s culture and hospitality, helping to create a smooth, fair, and memorable IOL experience for all participants.

Paul Helmer Chair, Finance
Valentina Cojocaru Accommodation
Roxana Preda Venue, Logistics
Vlad Neacșu Public Relations
Mihai Bratu Technology
Tamara Ivanof User Experience

Jury

The academic nucleus of IOL is the Problem Committee (PC), a permanent body composed of researchers, teachers and former participants, all experienced solvers, testers and composers of the genre of self-sufficient linguistics problems. The PC works the whole year in the multilingual composition of the problems, in order to guarantee that all language versions of the problems are functionally equal. You can learn more about the PC here.

During the event, the academic work (distributing the problems, overseeing the exams, marking the papers, presenting solutions, giving awards) is carried out by an International Jury, composed of Jurors drawn from the PC. The Jury’s academic work is led by the Jury Chair, while the Jury Coordinator ensures the Jury’s welfare and smooth operation. The list of Jury members for IOL 2026 is given below:

Dan-Mircea Mirea — Jury Chair

PC member since 2019

IOL contestant in 2014 and 2015

PhD candidate in Psychology at Princeton University, Bachelor's and Masters' from University of Cambridge. Romanian LO member since 2015, and former Chair of the Romanian PC. Linguistics & psychology content creator @danniesbrain on TikTok and Instagram. Avid singer, fan of board games, and pop/internet culture enthusiast.

www.dan-mirea.com
Gabrijela Hladnik — Jury Coordinator

PC and Jury member 2011-2023. Works as software quality consultant. Slovenian LO member since the beginning. Travels the world as digital nomad. Enjoys teaching, jigsaw puzzles and food tasting.

Aida Davletova

PC member since 2025

IOL contestant in 2022 and 2023

BA student in Computational Linguistics at the University of Tübingen. Teaching assistant for syntax & semantics and computational linguistics. Involved with Kazakhstan's LO (PC Chair) and GeO, as well as DOL (Germany). Amateur piphilologist, Wikipedia editor, enjoyer of coffee and Kazakh folk.

Aleksejs Peguševs

PC member since 2012

IOL contestant in 2008, 2009 and 2010

Composer of music and linguistic problems, educator, mind sports athlete (mainly competitive Carcassonne). Masters in Linguistics from University of Oxford (2018) and Masters in Music from Sibelius Academy, Finland (2017).

Alexander Piperski

PC member since 2006

IOL contestant in 2004 and 2005

Moscow Traditional Linguistics Olympiad and APLO committee member. Senior lecturer at the Slavic Department at Stockholm University, research fellow at the Сhair of Computational Сorpus Linguistics at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. Fond of public transport and cannoli siciliani.

Ana Meta Dolinar

PC member since 2024

IOL contestant in 2017 and 2019

Studied Computer Science with a specialisation in Natural Language Processing at Cambridge University (Bachelor's + Master's). Originally from Slovenia, but I have lived in 6 countries and currently work in the Netherlands. Involved with the linguistic olympiad in Slovenia (primarily as a reviewer) since 2019. I enjoy trail running, board games and bubble tea.

Andrey Nikulin

PC member since 2018

IOL contestant in 2008, 2009 and 2010

Faculty member at Núcleo Takinahakỹ de Formação Superior Indígena, Federal University of Goiás, specializing in South American indigenous languages. Ph.D. in Linguistics from University of Brasília. Enjoys reptiles and the traditional cultures of Trinidad, Venezuela, Northern Brazil, and Eastern Bolivia.

Angela Hou

PC member since 2025

Undergraduate in Linguistics at Princeton University and NACLO committee member. Interested in Optimality-Theoretic approaches to the morphosyntax-phonology interface, especially Match Theory. Passionate about language revitalization, Zapotec languages, and dispelling transphobia, amatonormativity, and bad linguistics. Lover of fossils, minerals, trees, birds, Chopin études, boba, and other miscellanea and ephemera.

Ákos Blaskovics

PC member since 2024

IOL contestant in 2018 and 2019

Studied Linguistics at Eötvös Loránd University Budapest (BA) and the University of Edinburgh (MSc), specialising in phonetics and phonology. Hungarian LO member since 2019. Enjoys theatre and classical music.

Boris Iomdin

PC member since 2003

Linguist specializing in lexicography and semantics, teaching linguistics and languages to children, high school, and university students in Russian, English, German, and Hebrew. Author of hundreds of linguistic problems, including 17 at the IOL. A fan of playing linguistic games, reading books, and researching linguistic games in books.

www.borisiomdin.com
Bruno L'Astorina

PC member since 2011

Co-founder and general coordinator of the Brazilian LO. Works of different projects in education, translation and public communication. In linguistics education, likes to bring insights on the diversity and unicity of human nature. Enjoys traveling, investigating the nature of mind from within and grouping things in sets of three legs.

Daniel Rucki

PC member since 2012

IOL contestant in 2010, 2011 and 2012

Studied Linguistics at the University of Cambridge, has collaborated with the Polish and Estonian LOs. Interested in language acquisition, historical linguistics, board games and travelling (especially to places with mountains).

Eimear McKnight

PC member since 2019

IOL contestant in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018

PhD student in Linguistics at Queen Mary University of London researching syntax and sociolinguistics of trans & non-binary communities, and UKLO Problem Committee member.

Elysia Warner

PC member since 2018

IOL contestant in 2013 and 2014

UKLO committee member since 2014. Studied Chinese and Linguistics at the University of Cambridge. Now a civil servant who enjoys knitting, cryptic crosswords, and Bollywood dance.

Ivan Derzhanski

PC member since 2003

PhD (Cognitive Science, Edinburgh). Associate professor (Institute for Mathematics and Informatics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences); does research in theoretical linguistics, lectures in computational linguistics, natural language processing and Python programming. Singlehandedly in charge of the Olympiad in Linguistics in Bulgaria (since 1998). Co-founder of IOL (2003).

Jan Petr

PC member since 2021

IOL contestant in 2015, 2016 and 2017

Postdoctoral researcher in Mathematics at the University of Passau. Member of the organizing team of ČLO. Fond of puzzles and games of various sorts, of learning and teaching, and of playing ultimate frisbee.

Kazune Sato

PC member since 2023

IOL contestant in 2019

DPhil student in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at University of Oxford, with primary research focus on historical Japanese linguistics and generative syntax. BA in Linguistics from University College London and MPhil in Linguistics from University of Cambridge. Member of Japan LO committee, UKLO committee and APLO PC. Foodie and a strong tea lover, as well as a passionate fan of card and board games, travelling, and learning new languages.

Ksenia Gilyarova

PC member since 2003

PhD in General Linguistics and French teacher. Currently studying for a Master’s in French as a Foreign Language (FLE) at the University of Lille, France. Author of ten IOL problems. Parent of three. Enjoys hiking, jogging, and writing.

Maria Rubinstein

PC member since 2003

Moscow Traditional Linguistics Olympiad Problem Committee member since 1997, IOL Problem Committee member since the beginning. Working on Israeli Linguistics Olympiad. And a hobbyist photographer.

Mihai Bratu

PC member since 2025

IOL contestant in 2021, 2022 and 2023

BSc student in Computer Science at the Delft University of Technology. Member of Romanian PC since 2023 and co-Chair since 2025. Enjoys board games, travelling and cycling.

Milena Veneva

PC member since 2013

Master of Science in Applied Mathematics (Sofia University). Applied mathematician. Bulgarian National Olympiad in Linguistics Problem Committee member since 2010. Author/co-author of dozens of linguistic problems assigned at the national olympiads worldwide, as well as 5 given at the IOL.

www.linkedin.com/in/mveneva
Samuel Ahmed

PC member since 2018

IOL contestant in 2015, 2016 and 2017

Lecturer in Linguistics (phonetics and phonology) at the University of Amsterdam, having completed a BA and research MA at Cambridge and Leiden Universities respectively. (Co-)author of 9 IOL problems. Enjoys board games, D&D, film and (naturally) language learning.

Shinjini Ghosh

PC member since 2018

IOL contestant in 2016, 2017 and 2018

APLO and PLO (India) Problem Committee member. Undergraduate in Computer Science and Linguistics, followed by MEng from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Enjoys painting, Indian classical dance, cooking, and board games.

Stanislav Gurevich

PC member since 2004

One of the organizers of Spanish LO. Founder (2001) and permanent director of Traditional Linguistics Summer School in Estonia. Passionate fan of seasonal mushroom-hunting.

Taehun Lee

PC member since 2009

IOL contestant in 2008

Lecturer in the Department of Russian Language and Literature at Seoul National University. Research interests include Russian Literature, Japanese literature, and Comparative Literature.

Tung-Le Pan

PC member since 2018

IOL contestant in 2017 and 2018

APLO and HKLO (Hong Kong; also co-founder) Problem Committee member. MA student in linguistics at the National Taiwan University.

Volunteers

In addition to the permanent bodies and to the LOC, running the actual IOL involves a lot of hands-on activities, performed by a group of national and international volunteers – working especially in coordinating, escorting and concierge-ing the students, but also preparing activities, distributing materials and keeping the flow and the energy of daily-life at IOL.

The list of local and international volunteers for IOL 2026 is given below:

Alesia Moldovan

Romania

Hi, I’m Alesia. I love meeting new people and taking part in activities that make a real difference. I learn best by doing, enjoy working in teams, and like to contribute wherever I can. I’m especially excited to volunteer for IOL for the first time, and I’m looking forward to pursuing studies in International Relations in the future.

Alexia Sitaru

Romania

Hi, I'm Alexia! I study linguistics in the UK, and I love phonology and computational linguistics. This is my first time volunteering in the IOL, and I can't wait to meet everyone and make this a memorable experience.

Alexia Stănică

Romania

Hi everybody! This is my first time taking part in this olympiad, so I'm very excited! My main and dearest passion is volunteering. I love being with those around me, doing them good, helping each other out! I listen to music on vinyl, especially rock, as you see in my picture, I like theater, running, and honest, authentic people.

Andreea Dijmărescu

Romania

Hi, I’m Andreea, a biology student who is curious about the world and passionate about learning new things. I enjoy meeting new people, sharing ideas, and building meaningful connections.

Anya Bogaevskaia

I'm Anya, a mathematician who's also passionate about languages and linguistics. I'm currently doing my Master's in statistics in Berlin and in my free time I enjoy singing, knitting, dancing historical dances and travelling. I look forward to seeing you in Romania and hope for us to have a great time together at this year's IOL!

Atako Nakamura

Australia

Hii, I'm Atako! I was a contestant in the 2024 IOL and I'm super excited to be back as a volunteer in Romania. I'm currently studying my Bachelors in (pure) Mathematics. I love climbing, travelling (adventures in the middle of nowhere), playing instruments and singing. Looking forward to meeting you all and a warm welcome to IOL 2026!!

Eliška Dvořáková

Ireland

Hello! I'm Eliška :) I competed for Ireland at IOL in Brazil in 2024 and I am SO excited to be back this year as a volunteer! I'm a law student currently based in London and my hobbies include reading, crafts, walking and exploring cities. Can't wait for an amazing week in Romania!

Esteban Mayorga

Colombia

Hello! I'm Esteban. I was a contestant in 2023 and a volunteer in 2024. I'm a third year mathematics student, hoping to become an academic someday :). When I'm not doing maths, I enjoy watching movies, going to concerts, trying new foods and meeting new people. I'm SO EXCITED for this year's IOL. See you in Romania!

Ioana-Steliana Barbu

Romania

Hi! I’m Ioana, I've been a contestant in the past two IOLs and had an amazing experience, so I’m excited to see what this year brings, this time from behind the scenes. I’m currently a Computer Science student in Bucharest who absolutely loves linguistics (I actually authored two problems for the Romanian Linguistics Olympiad this year!!!). I also enjoy singing, reading and board games. Wishing everyone a very warm welcome to IOL 2026!

Karina-Adriana Stăncescu

Romania

Hi, I’m Karina :) I was a contestant at IOL 2024, held in Brazil, and I’ve stayed deeply involved with the Olympiad ever since. I’m currently studying Computer Science, but I’d love to combine my passions and go into Computational Linguistics in the future. I love learning new languages, spending time with animals, and travelling. I can’t wait to meet you all - this time as a volunteer :) Welcome to the IOL!

Manoela Ferraz

Brazil

Hi, I'm Manoela :) I have been a contestant at IOL in 2022 and 2023, and I am so excited to join the volunteering team this year! In college I study Cognitive Science and Philosophy (both with bits of linguistics haha), and I also love to hike and run, climb, knit and crochet, and cook. Welcome to IOL!!!

Oscar Bovenizer

Isle of Man

Hi! My name's Oscar and I'm so excited to volunteer this year and give back to the incredible IOL! I competed in Bulgaria in 2023 and loved it so much. I am now studying maths at university and outside of the IOL I love making music, dancing, climbing, hiking, food and cats! We're so excited to welcome you, you're all gonna have the best time at IOL 2026!

Roosmari Pihlak-Edgar

Estonia

I'm Roosmari, a volunteer of many years and the social media manager for IOL. I'm an international business student in Nürnberg, Germany and I love linguistics (obviously), travelling, arts, music, coffee and hedgehogs. Welcome to IOL 2026! :)

Ruxandra Florescu

Romania

Hello! My name is Ruxandra, and I'm very excited to be on the IOL volunteer team this year! I'm currently a high school senior, but I'm planning on studying Computational Linguistics and Theatre in college. I love travelling, drawing, painting, photography and meeting new people. I hope we'll make many wonderful memories together at IOL 2026!

Sasha Gol'dina

Ukraine

Hi, I'm Sasha! I competed in the IOL in 2023 and 2024, and I'm so, so, SO excited to be back as a volunteer. I study Cognitive Science and Linguistics in college, and in my free time, I read, journal, do theater and visit cozy coffeeshops. Welcome to the IOL — I hope you're as excited as I am :)

Susan Su

China

Hi, I’m Susan! I’m from Shanghai, China and I was a contestant at IOL 2023 in Bulgaria. Linguistics Olympiads have been a big part of my life since then, so I’m very excited to be back! I’m currently in my first year of college studying linguistics and psychology. I also love reading, birding, spending time with my cat, watching gymnastics and making crafts. Have a great time at IOL 2026 <3

Vítor Amaral Córdoba

Brazil

Hi! I'm Vítor, and I found out about IOL in 2024 because it would be hosted in my hometown, Brasília. Since then, I fell in love with all the problem solving and planning that comes with working in the IOL. I love esports, F1, football and pretty much any sort of competition that exists. Wishing everyone an amazing IOL 2026 <3

Vlad Oros

Romania

Hello! I'm Vlad (yes, a pretty common name in Romania). I have been competing in Linguistics Olympiads of some kind or another for as long as I can remember, but so far never got to be a volunteer. I'm really excited to see what it's like to be on the other side, and in the meantime I can't wait to make some wonderful memories!

Yutong Heng

Singapore

I'm Heccy! I'm from Team Singapore '24 and '25, and I can't wait to meet you as part of Team Volunteers 2026. Apart from studying linguistics (inspired by this very competition!) + philosophy in the UK, in my free time I love ballroom dancing, birdwatching, playing with cats, and admiring all the beautiful vibrant colours of the arts and the world. Welcome to IOL! ♡✧。٩(ˊᗜˋ )و✧*。

Zuzana M. Gruberová

Czech Republic

IOL contestant in 2016 and volunteer in 2018. Member of the organizing team of Czech Linguistic Olympiad. Flavour physicist, puzzle hunter, tea hoarder, tiny photographer, undecided artist.

Participants

The participants consist of delegations of Contestants, Team Leaders and additional Observers, representing their Country or Territory. They take part in the competition, academic discussions and cultural activities, contributing to the international and collaborative spirit of the IOL.

The list of participating Countries and Territories for IOL 2026 will be updated based on the registered delegations.